Ear pain on a trip usually traces back to one of three things: pressure changes on a flight, water trapped after swimming, or an infection following a cold. Pressure-related pain almost always eases within hours. Pain that keeps building, comes with fever, or follows a few days of cold symptoms is the kind worth having assessed.
An English-speaking, Japan-licensed physician can assess ear symptoms by video from your accommodation and prescribe where appropriate — with the honest caveat that a video call can't look inside your ear.
Pain from flying
Cabin pressure changes fastest on descent, and if the tube that equalizes pressure in your middle ear is blocked — commonly by a cold or congestion — the result is a blocked, painful ear that can last hours or occasionally a day or two.
- Swallowing, yawning, chewing gum and sipping water during descent all help the ear equalize.
- Flying with a heavy cold makes this much more likely; a decongestant before descent may help, but ask a pharmacist rather than assuming your usual product is sold here.
- If it hasn't settled after a couple of days, or hearing is noticeably reduced, get it looked at.
Pain after swimming
Water trapped in the ear canal — from a pool, the sea, or an onsen — can lead to inflammation of the outer canal. It typically feels tender when you tug the outer ear or press the small flap in front of it, and can itch before it hurts.
Keep the ear dry, don't put cotton buds or anything else into the canal, and don't try to flush it out. If pain is increasing, the canal is swelling shut, or there's discharge, that needs a doctor rather than patience.
Pain with a cold
Ear pain that arrives a few days into a cold, often with a fever and a muffled feeling, is a common pattern in both children and adults. Some cases settle on their own; others need treatment. That decision belongs to a doctor who has taken your history — it isn't something to guess at with painkillers alone over several days.
If you're traveling with a child, our guide to seeing a doctor for a sick child in Japan covers the signs that mean don't wait.
What an online consultation can and can't do
A video consultation can take a proper history — when it started, what preceded it, whether there's fever, hearing change or discharge — and reach a decision, including a prescription where that's appropriate. The prescription is emailed to you and sent to a pharmacy near where you're staying, often ready in as little as 30 minutes.
What it can't do is examine your eardrum with an otoscope, which is sometimes exactly what's needed. If the doctor concludes that's the case, they'll say so and point you toward in-person care rather than prescribing blind. Consultations run 9:00–18:00 JST, Monday to Saturday, and booking is open at any hour.
Children and flights
Children get ear pain on descent more often than adults, and are much less able to equalize deliberately. Feeding a baby or offering a bottle during descent helps; older children can be given a drink, a snack, or something chewy at the right moment.
A child who is inconsolable, pulling at an ear with a fever, or unwell for more than a day after a flight should be assessed rather than waited out. Our guide to seeing a doctor for a sick child covers what to have ready and which symptoms mean go in person.
Before your next flight
- Stay hydrated through the flight; cabin air is dry and thick mucus equalizes badly.
- Stay awake for the descent if you can — you swallow less while asleep, which is when pressure builds.
- If you're congested, ask a pharmacist about a decongestant before you travel rather than assuming your usual product is sold in Japan.
- Filtered earplugs designed for flying help some people, and are sold at airport pharmacies.
- If you've had a recent ear infection or ear surgery, ask a doctor before flying rather than after.
One thing worth knowing about Japanese healthcare: ears, nose and throat are handled by a specific department, 耳鼻咽喉科 (jibiinkōka), and clinics are common in most neighbourhoods. If an in-person examination turns out to be the right answer, that's the sign to look for.
How long should ear pain after a flight last?
Usually hours, sometimes a day or two. Pain that keeps building, hearing that stays reduced, or a fever developing are reasons to be assessed rather than to keep waiting.
Can a doctor treat an ear infection over video?
A physician can assess your history and symptoms and decide what's appropriate, which may include a prescription. If examining the eardrum is necessary to decide safely, you'll be referred for in-person care.
Should I use ear drops I brought with me?
Ask a doctor first. Some drops are unsuitable if the eardrum may be perforated, which is not something to judge yourself.
Can I fly with ear pain?
It depends on the cause and severity, and it's worth asking a doctor if you have a flight coming up. If you need documentation for an airline, an English medical certificate is issued with every consultation.
My ear feels blocked but doesn't hurt. Is that a problem?
A blocked or muffled ear after a flight or a cold often clears on its own over a few days. Get it assessed if it persists beyond that, if hearing is noticeably reduced, or if pain or fever develops.
Where do I go in person for an ear problem in Japan?
Ears, nose and throat are handled by 耳鼻咽喉科 (jibiinkōka), and clinics are common in most neighbourhoods. A doctor will point you there if an examination of the eardrum is needed.
